Well…today, we have over a foot of snow out in my yard. I am not going anywhere until the streets clear up a little. I am so fortunate to be able to work virtually. The snow is really quite pretty when you don’t have to fight the chill and slush. As we head into the holiday season, I thought I would post a few of my sweet treat recipes that I have shared on my Instagram account–but not here on the blog. Want to follow me on Instagram? I provide a variety of different recipes and topics on my Instagram account. To follow me, click here!
Today’s recipe is… Dark Chocolate Congo Bars. 
The flour is this recipe is mostly oat flour–so I might argue that this dessert offers some good nutrition via prebiotics, healthy food for our beneficial gut microbes. I added dark chocolate too–which offers some healthy gut microbiome benefits too (read more here). 
Have you heard of Congo bars? It’s like a blondie with chocolate chips. We always called them Congo bars growing up. I don’t recall my mother making these–but with the last 3 children in my family being girls–of the nine kids!!–there was always something sweet being made up in our kitchen, including these Congo bars. So good. So good.
Here’s the recipe…let me know what you think!
Dark Chocolate Congo Bars (gluten free + low FODMAP)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup gluten free flour blend (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten free 1 to 1 baking flour)
- 1 1/4 cup oat flour (use gluten free if following gluten free diet)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (use gluten free if following gluten free diet)
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut (use sweetened or unsweetened, as desired)
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks or morsels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line 8 x 8 square pan with parchment paper
- In medium bowl, cream butter and brown sugar.
- Add in egg and vanilla.
- Slowly incorporate gluten free flour blend, oat flour and baking powder.
- Fold in coconut and walnuts.
- Spread mixture in pan.
- Top evenly with chocolate chunks or morsels, lightly pressing into dough.
- Bake 20-25 minutes. Edges will be slightly browned. Let cool completely before cutting.
- Bars keep well in refrigerator for 4-5 days (if they last).
kari
Our family loves these! We always have the ingredients on hand for a quick treat that even our non-lowfodmappers love! They are especially good right out of the oven with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream! We often scramble to find the recipe on instagram so I’m glad to now have an easy way to find it on your blog and I pinned it to pinterest as well! Thanks again for another Kate Scarlata family favorite!
Carol
These sound really good and I’m sure my grandkids would love them. I’m following a gluten-free diet. In our small community, I’m not sure I could find gluten free oat flour but do use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1 to 1. Has anyone tried this recipe using only that?
katescarlata
Carol–you can definitely sub all gluten free oat flour with the Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend.
Marci
You can make your own oat flour. Just grind up oatmeal in a food processor/food chopper. I make it all the time. 🙂
Eric John
I often try your recipes and my mates loved when I take that meal in office. Thanks for sharing another recipe. I will and give you the feedback :).
katescarlata
Nice to hear that, Eric. Yes, please let me know how these go over.
C. G.
Just in time for our office Holiday Cookie Exchange! It is great to be able to make and provide a gluten free option that doea not involve cereal.
C.G.
Just in time for our office Holiday Cookie Exchange. It is great to be able to make and contribute a gluten free option that does not involve cereal!
katescarlata
Awesome! Let me know how they go over. 🙂
Betsy
saw this in my email today and decided they would be a great thing to make after snow shoeing on this snow day! Delicious! Just what I needed!
katescarlata
Yay, that makes me happy. Glad you liked them!
Joan Elkin
Thank you, Kate. We’ll enjoy these soon.
katescarlata
Glad to hear that!
Karen
We are in Canada. They sound delicious. Can you please recommend a type or brand of chocolate morsels? I am often confused about the types. I have read that it is best to use 65-75% dark chocolate instead of the higher percentages. Do you know why that might be the case?
katescarlata
Most semi-sweet chocolate morsels should be fine. I often use Hershey or Enjoy life brand.
Leslie
These look delicious! Do you have a substitute suggestion for the butter for those needing to be dairy free?
katescarlata
So sorry for delay in response–not sure, I haven’t tried this recipe dairy free–but you could try a suitable vegan style “butter”.